Nathaniel Ludlow

Nathaniel Ludlow and Mary Ann Niblett

Nathaniel, son of John and Mary Ann Hopkins Ludlow, was born June 17, 1821, at Avening, Gloucester, England. Born also at Avening were his four brothers, Daniel Saunders, James, John and William and one sister, Maria.

Nathaniel was a contractor who did work in draining and stone masonry. He probably learned his trade at Stony.

He married Mary Ann Niblett June 8, 1840 and they become the parents of eleven children. They are John, Paul, Lorenzo, Rhoda, Isabella Rhoda Ellen, George, Enoch, Mary Jane, Moses Albert and Walter. Rhoda Ellen and George both died in early infancy. We have no records of John.

The reason for and date of Nathaniel’s moving to Halifax, Yorkshire, England is uncertain, but it is believed that his business brought him there. At Halifax he had business contacts with Richard Horsfall who supervised a cotton factory and was a stockholder of this factory. He also owned stock in the railroads. Enoch, son of Nathaniel Ludlow and Lavinia, daughter of Richard Hrs fall, become acquainted at this time and were married August 15, 1872

In addition to his contracting, Nathaniel managed a public house (Pub) near a pork sandwich shop, operated by his son Enoch. Their wives did most of the managing of the two businesses and cooperated closely.

It was Nathaniel’s wife, Mary Ann Niblett Ludlow, who converted her husband to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She learned of the Gospel through her sister, Ellen Niblett Huish, who had joined the Church in Avening, was married to James Huish and emigrated to Payson or Salem, Utah, in America. When the opportunity came, Ellen asked a newly appointed Mormon missionary, Elder Charles Evans, who was leaving for the British Mission to visit her sister, Mary Ann in Halifax and tell her of the Gospel. He did so, and with the help of Ellen who kept writing her sister, was able to convert Mary Ann. She in turn converted her husband Nathaniel. All of their boys, whit a possible exception of Lorenzo, also became members of the Church. Their daughters, Isabella Ludlow Lutz and Mary Jane Ludlow Crowther, both had families of their own before their parents immigrated to America. Neither one of them joined the church.

In 1878, Nathaniel Ludlow, Mary Ann Niblett Ludlow and their son, Walter, left England for America. Their son, Enock, his wife, Lavinia Horsfall Ludlow, and their three small sons, John, Thomas Edwin and Paul, accompanied them, Lavinia had not yet become a member of the Church and her parents strongly opposed her leaving England at that time.

This group embarked at Liverpool, England, September 14, 1878, on the boat “S.S. Wyoming”, their destination-Utah. On arrival in the United States, they took the railroad which carried them west. They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, October, 1878. After spending about a week in Salt Lake City, Nathaniel and his family went to Payson, Utah to the home of James and Ellen Huish. They spent the first winter there. Two homes were needed to house the two families, but they all ate together. 

In the spring, Nathaniel and Enoch bought a farm with some money they had brought with them. The farm had been partly home-steaied and they finished it together.

On June 28, 1879, on the ship “S.S. Wyoming”, Nathaniel’s second son, Paul, who had never been very well, came to Utah. He and his brother Enoch bought some land together in Benjamin, Utah. The youngest son, Walter, who had been born with one short leg, remained with his father, Nathaniel.

Another son, Albert, was serving in the Army in England at the time. He wished to join his family in Utah but was unable to obtain permission, so he deserted in 1879 and came anyway. He and his sons were engaged in farming, plastering and masonry in Utah, Idaho and finally in California where he died. Nathaniel’s son, Moses, came to Utah September 4, 1880, on the ship “S.S. Nevada.” He settled in Salt Lake City where he remained for the rest of his life. He and his sons were engaged in business enterprises rather than farming.

Lorenzo, the third son of Nathaniel came to Utah about this time to see the new home of his family. After a short visit, his wife persuaded him to return to England, which they did.

There were good and bad times for Nathaniel and Mary Ann Ludlow. They had left a comfortable home to come and live as pioneers with few of the comforts of life. They were compelled to work very hard and adjust to all the rigors of an undeveloped country.

When they were preparing to leave England, Mary Ann Niblett Ludlow gave one of her treasured possessions to her oldest Granddaughter, Mary Ann, daughter of Paul. It was a pair of ornaments trimmed with glittering crystal prisms. Young Mary Ann brought them Carefully wrapped and in her trunk when her father’s family emigrated to Utah. The sight of these familiar trinkets brought tears to the eyes of Grandmother Mary Ann. She cherished them for the rest of her life after they were returned to grand daughter Mary Ann.

Nathaniel and Mary Ann remained true the faith, never doubting that they had chosen wisely in accepting the Gospel. In 1888, ten years after they emigrated, Mary Ann became very ill. Despite her illness, she insisted that she be taken to the Logan Temple to receive her endowments. She was carried to and from the train but she did complete the work in the Temple. Ten days later she died ay Benjamin, Utah, June, 1888.

After Mary Ann’s death, Nathaniel went to live with his son Paul and his wife, Elizabeth. Paul died in 1890, two years after his mother’s death. Nathaniel remained at Paul’s home receiving good care from Elizabeth and her six daughters. He died November 9, 1893, at Benjamin, Utah.